Tonsillitis and Tonsillectomy (Hansard, 12 March 1962)

§ 48. Mr. Dugdale
asked the Minister of Health how many persons died of tonsillitis and tonsillectomy, respectively, during the past 10 years.

§ Miss Pitt
In 1951–60, 672 deaths were attributed to acute tonsillitis or to hypertrophy of tonsils and adenoids. In 291 of these tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy was mentioned on the certificate.

§ Mr. Dugdale
Do I understand from that Answer that more people have in fact died from tonsillitis than from tonsillectomy? Will this information be conveyed to those people who think that operations on tonsils are exceedingly bad and result in more deaths?

§ Miss Pitt
No. The hon. Gentleman has not understood correctly, because this expression, hypertrophy of tonsils, relates to the thickening of tonsils, as I understand it in non-technical language, and this must be linked with the tonsillitis cases in considering the figure of 672.

§ Dr. Stross
Is not the position really this, that this operation, which was universally done on very many people in the past, is now suspect, and that it is important to make an inquiry to make certain what the true position is?

§ Miss Pitt
I was not aware of that, but I will pursue the hon. Gentleman's question.

§ Mr. Kershaw
May I ask how much it cost to get that Answer and what was the use of it?